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The Chain

Farm, Factory, and the Fate of Our Food

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The Chain

Written by: Ted Genoways
Narrated by: Michael Kramer
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About this listen

On the production line in American packinghouses, there is one cardinal rule: the chain never slows. Under pressure to increase supply, the supervisors of meat-processing plants have routinely accelerated the pace of conveyors, leading to inhumane conditions, increased accidents, and food of questionable and often dangerous quality.

In The Chain, acclaimed journalist Ted Genoways uses the story of Hormel Foods and its most famous product, Spam, to probe the state of the meatpacking industry. Interviewing scores of line workers, union leaders, hog farmers, and local politicians and activists, Genoways reveals an industry pushed to its breaking point. Along the way, he exposes alarming new trends: sick or permanently disabled workers, abused animals, water and soil pollution, and mounting conflict between small towns and immigrant labor.

©2014 Ted Genoways (P)2014 Tantor Business & Careers Social Sciences
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What the critics say

"An exhaustive examination of this industry. . . . [Listeners] curious about meatpacking and agriculture as well as the social, economic, and environmental impacts of the food industry will find Genoways's nonfiction debut a valuable and stimulating read." ( Library Journal )

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Worthwhile listen

If you can spare the time to listen to some in depth investigation- this is your listen. In the bigger picture it reaffirms the idea that as soon as bioreactors can eliminate animals, the industrial meat system will be gone. A tamed down modern version of the jungle that’s reality. Not much attention paid to the sector in animal ag that is raising exceptional animals in non industrial conditions and small scale local processing which offers so much of what slightly enlightened consumers want. I look forward to more investigation on the small scale by this author….. till then - cook well and a bit more, don’t think about externalities and enjoy the experience.

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